‘Zombie’ Music Video Nails the Harsh Reality of Nursing—It Will Bring You To Tears

Image Source: Yungblud

Yungblud’s latest music video, “Zombie,” is resonating deeply with nurses, thanks to its raw depiction of burnout and emotional exhaustion—brought to life by a powerful performance from acclaimed actress Florence Pugh. The video, directed by Charlie Sarsfield, marks a bold creative shift for Yungblud and stands as a tribute to overlooked – and overworked – nurses who are the backbone of our healthcare system.

Who Are Yungblud and Florence Pugh?

• Yungblud (Dominic Richard Harrison) is a British singer-songwriter known for his genre-blending style and outspoken activism. Since his debut in 2018, Yungblud has tackled themes of mental health, social struggle, and youth disenfranchisement. His music often serves as an emotional outlet for listeners feeling overwhelmed by the world’s challenges.
• Florence Pugh is an English actress celebrated for her emotionally charged roles in films like Oppenheimer, Midsommar and Little Women as well as her role in Marvel’s Black Widow and Thunderbolts. Her performances are marked by their intensity and vulnerability, making her an ideal choice to portray the emotional toll of a nurse in “Zombie”.

“Zombie” – A Visual and Visceral Portrait of Nurse Burnout

In “Zombie,” Florence Pugh plays a nurse pushed to her emotional and physical limits. The video’s stark, unfiltered visuals capture the exhaustion, grief, and resilience that define so many nurses’ experiences—especially in recent years.

Director Charlie Sarsfield, whose own grandmother was a nurse, explained: “This film is for the unsung heroes – those who don’t always see their own wings. We just wanted to help them see them.”

Unlike previous Yungblud videos that leaned into metaphor, “Zombie” confronts the harsh realities of frontline work, making it especially poignant for nurses.

Watch the full “Zombie” video on YouTube. 

Yungblud’s lyrics in “Zombie” echo the numbness and isolation often felt by nurses experiencing burnout:

Oh, I know that I can’t live without you

But this world will keep turning if you do

Would you even want me looking like a zombie?

Would you even want me, want me, want me?

These lines capture the fear of becoming emotionally detached—a “zombie”—and the longing for acceptance despite visible exhaustion.

Despite the dark subject matter, Yungblud called the video, “A love letter to nurses” and Florence Pugh thanked him, saying: “Thank you for having me on your journey and thank you for making this love letter to nurses all around. What a privilege it is to make epic things, with epic people for great reasons.”

The video has sparked a lively discussion among nurses online, especially on Reddit forums like r/NursingUK and r/popculturechat and on both celebrities’ Instagram pages. Nurses mostly praised the video’s honesty and emotional impact:

• “As a healthcare worker who worked in critical care during the pandemic and witnessed so much death. Thank you for this. It truly hit home. Ugly crying by how beautiful this was.” @missgio_
• “As a Healthcare worker. THIS is a true representation of our daily struggles. We laugh. We cry. We scream. What a beautiful video and anthem. Thank you Dom.” @thejennorater
• “I love reading all the fellow nurses comments. We are all feeling the same no matter what ward in the hospital or even country you’re in. We all felt this video to our core. We should all be proud of ourselves for not giving up every shift 🖤 we have so many people waiting on the other side for us.” @aliciawallace___

Some commenters questioned whether the video goes far enough in addressing systemic issues, but many agreed that its emotional honesty and Florence Pugh’s performance make it a powerful piece of art for those who feel unseen.

“Zombie” doesn’t offer solutions or policy prescriptions, but it gives voice to the emotional realities of nursing—burnout, grief, and the struggle to keep going. For nurses, seeing their experiences reflected in mainstream music and media can be validating and cathartic. By shining a spotlight on the emotional cost of care, the video invites empathy, awareness, and—perhaps most importantly—recognition for those who keep showing up, even when they feel like “zombies.”

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